Pixabay
1 / 50#25. Berlin U-Bahn - Germany
Year opened: 1902
System length: 94.3 route miles
The sprawling metro systems of the world enable residents and travelers alike to reach the furthest corners of a city. From Chicago's famed elevated "L" to Hong Kong's ultra-modern Massive Transit Railway, these transportation networks blend convenience and comprehensiveness with the permanence and cost of truly ambitious urban projects.
To help guide your next global adventure, we've identified the 25 largest metro systems in the world by overall route length, using data published in news releases, government reports, and the metro-operating companies themselves. Our analysis focuses on heavy rail systems—dedicated, mass-transit rail systems designed to move residents through a city with speed—as opposed to light rails and commuter trains that typically serve the outer limits of a metro area.
Together, these transportation networks account for over four billion miles of possible travel. For each metro system on our list, you'll find an image that encapsulates the sprawling city serviced, as well as a handy route map for your travels.
Roger W // Flickr
2 / 50#25. Berlin U-Bahn - Germany
Year opened: 1902
System length: 94.3 route miles
Lancerman // Pixabay
3 / 50#24. Tianjin Metro - China
Year opened: 1984
System length: 100.0 route miles
Kuailong // Wikicommons
4 / 50#24. Tianjin Metro - China
Year opened: 1984
System length: 100.0 route miles
Allen McGregor // Wikicommons
5 / 50#23. Chicago "L" - United States
Year opened: 1897
System length: 102.8 route miles
BorgHunter // Wikciommons
6 / 50#23. Chicago "L" - United States
Year opened: 1897
System length: 102.8 route miles
Jack French // Wikicommons
7 / 50#22. San Francisco BART - United States
Year opened: 1972
System length: 112.0 route miles
Train2104 // Wikicommons
8 / 50#22. San Francisco BART - United States
Year opened: 1972
System length: 112.0 route miles
Estial // Wikicommons
9 / 50#21. Hong Kong MTR - China
Year opened: 1999
System length: 123.0 route miles
MTR
10 / 50#21. Hong Kong MTR - China
Year opened: 1999
System length: 123.0 route miles
Ingfbruno // Wikicommons
11 / 50#20. Washington Metro - United States
Year opened: 1979
System length: 116.4 route miles
Washington Metro
12 / 50#20. Washington Metro - United States
Year opened: 1979
System length: 116.4 route miles
Colegata // Wikicommons
13 / 50#19. Chengdu Metro - China
Year opened: 1976
System length: 118.0 route miles
Sd4002991 // Wikicommons
14 / 50#19. Chengdu Metro - China
Year opened: 1976
System length: 118.0 route miles
Negative Space // GoodFreePhotos
15 / 50#18. Tokyo Metro - Japan
Year opened: 2010
System length: 121.0 route miles
Tokyo Metro
16 / 50#18. Tokyo Metro - Japan
Year opened: 1927
System length: 121.2 route miles
Ninara // Flickr
17 / 50#17. Tehran Metro - Iran
Year opened: 1927
System length: 121.2 route miles
Tehran Metro
18 / 50#17. Tehran Metro - Iran
Year opened: 2010
System length: 121.0 route miles
Calvin Teo // Wikicommons
19 / 50#16. Singapore Mass Rapid Transit - Singapore
Year opened: 1987
System length: 124.0 route miles
Singapore MRT
20 / 50#16. Singapore Mass Rapid Transit - Singapore
Year opened: 1987
System length: 124.0 route miles
Ed Webster // Wikicommons
21 / 50#15. Paris Métro - France
Year opened: 1900
System length: 133.0 route miles
Paris Métro
22 / 50#15. Paris Métro - France
Year opened: 1900
System length: 133.0 route miles
Pixabay
23 / 50#14. Mexico City Metro - Mexico
Year opened: 1969
System length: 140.7 route miles
Mysid, Battroid // Wikicommons
24 / 50#14. Mexico City Metro - Mexico
Year opened: 1969
System length: 140.7 route miles
Hui // Wikicommons
25 / 50#13. Wuhan Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 147.0 route miles
Howchou // Wikicommons
26 / 50#13. Wuhan Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 147.0 route miles
Aze0098 // Wikicommons
27 / 50#12. Delhi Metro - India
Year opened: 2002
System length: 156.6 route miles
Delhi Metro
28 / 50#12. Delhi Metro - India
Year opened: 2002
System length: 156.6 route miles
ming chen // Wikicommons
29 / 50#11. Chongqing Rail Transit - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 164.0 route miles
MR.xun // Wikicommons
30 / 50#11. Chongqing Rail Transit - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 164.0 route miles
AndyLeaunHK // Pixabay
31 / 50#10. Shenzhen Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 176.5 route miles
DeBit // Wikicommons
32 / 50#10. Shenzhen Metro - China
Year opened: 2004
System length: 176.5 route miles
Benjamin Nunez Gonzalez // Wikicommons
33 / 50#9. Madrid Metro - Spain
Year opened: 1919
System length: 182.7 route miles
Jesusmarinetto // Wikicommons
34 / 50#9. Madrid Metro - Spain
Year opened: 1919
System length: 182.7 route miles
Kys951 // Wikicommons
35 / 50#8. Seoul Metropolitan Subway - South Korea
Year opened: 1974
System length: 189.2 route miles
IRTC1015 // Wikicommons
36 / 50#8. Seoul Metropolitan Subway - South Korea
Year opened: 1974
System length: 189.2 route miles
Shuichi Aizawa // Wikicommons
37 / 50#7. Nanjing Metro - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 216.0 route miles
SSYoung // Wikicommons
38 / 50#7. Nanjing Metro - China
Year opened: 2005
System length: 216.0 route miles
Moscow Metro
39 / 50#6. Moscow Metro - Russia
Year opened: 1935
System length: 223.4 route miles
Sameboat // Wikicommons
40 / 50#6. Moscow Metro - Russia
Year opened: 1935
System length: 223.4 route miles
chensiyuan // Wikicommons
41 / 50#5. Guangzhou Metro - China
Year opened: 1997
System length: 242.7 route miles
H2NCH2COOH // Wikicommons
42 / 50#5. Guangzhou Metro - China
Year opened: 1997
System length: 242.7 route miles
Sracer357 // Wikicommons
43 / 50#4. New York City Subway - United States
Year opened: 1904
System length: 246.0 route miles
NYC Metro
44 / 50#4. New York City Subway - United States
Year opened: 1904
System length: 246.0 route miles
Daniel Chapman // Wikicommons
45 / 50#3. London Underground - United Kingdom
Year opened: 1890
System length: 253.0 route miles
Sameboat // Wikicommons
46 / 50#3. London Underground - United Kingdom
Year opened: 1890
System length: 253.0 route miles
Jakob Montrasio // Wikicommons
47 / 50#2. Beijing Subway - China
Year opened: 1971
System length: 372.4 route miles
Beijing Subway
48 / 50#2. Beijing Subway - China
Year opened: 1971
System length: 372.4 route miles
xuanzi86410527 // Pixabay
49 / 50#1. Shanghai Metro - China
Year opened: 1993
System length: 413.0 route miles
Shanghai Metro
50 / 50#1. Shanghai Metro - China
Year opened: 1993
System length: 413.0 route miles
